Search - Lloyd Cole :: Love Story

Tom A. (CTA4him) from ANDERSON, SC
Reviewed on 11/4/2014...

Former leader of "The Commotions"has put out another solid effort. Not sure why he's relatively unknown here in the states because his music and style should translate well here. "Trigger Happy" will grab your attention and set you up for a nice musical adventure.

Music that can't be contained on a simple, plastic disc.

Timothy Karlberg | Minneapolis, MN | 12/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I bought this CD on a whim, I had never even heard of Lloyd Cole. Suffice it to say that I introduced myself to Cole when I was still thoroughly naive of his incredible talent; this was back when I would've thought The Commotions was some kind of debilitating illness, and not his former backup band. I fell in love with the CD in a slowly-progressive manner similar to the way innocent crushes are formed. To say that I was overwhelmed with admiration from the beginning wouldn't be accurate. Rather, I casually figured this was an album to keep around and spend some time with in the future if the mood seemed right. Soon, I found myself spending more and more time with "Love Story" and before long, there came that pivotal moment in many a CD's lifetime when I "heard" the album for the first time. That's when my devotion to "Love Story" and, more broadly, to Lloyd Cole's music in general, emerged.After more recent purchases of Cole's though, I can confidently say that "Love Story" is more the exception to his style, than the rule. Certainly, familiarizing one's self with Lloyd Cole by means of "Love Story" is like being introduced to U2 with the "Pop" album. It simply wasn't a portrayal of the past, and this, I believe, is what made some longtime fans look elsewhere, while simultaneously turning some window shoppers like me into dedicated listeners. Where much of Cole's previous projects are guitar-driven, bold works only sparsely tempered by the occasional reflective serenade, "Love Story" is quite the polar opposite. From beginning to end, this is a nocturnal delight, blatantly engineered for the immediate pre-dawn hours. Which is not to assert that this is music to sleep to. On the contrary, the vast majority of these songs are gently melodic, lushly acoustic, and delicately formed within the womb of Cole's undeniable emotion; this disc belongs in your insomnia first-aid kit, next to Everything But The Girl's "Amplified Heart.""

Lovin' That Lloyd Cole

Compton Roberts | Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA | 07/30/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the solo album that fans of Lloyd Cole & the Commotions had long hoped he'd make. After some interesting false starts over the years, Cole finally seemed to be revisited by his songwriting Muse. This isn't "Rattlesnakes", but there is an austere beauty and musical commitment present on every track of this lovely CD. In some ways, it reminds me of vintage Van Morrison or even a Frank Sinatra recording from the 1950s--it is romantic yet knowing, musically well-conceived giving each song just the right instrumental treatment and, as a collection of songs, it has a cohesive mood and tempo. "Love Story" contains what I feel is some of Cole's most intimate singing and his lyrics are wry and sophisticated. Musically, this is probably Cole's finest hour as each song has a memorable melody line and pleasing chord changes. Songs such as "Trigger Happy", "I Didn't Know That You Cared", "Love Ruins Everything" and "Like Lovers Do" get under your skin very quickly and very smoothly. This album won't knock you out at first, but really grows on you after repeated listens. It will receive heavy rotation in your CD player because it lifts, soothes and heals in ways to which the pretentious Lilith Fair set can only aspire. An overlooked gem!"